Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New ‎#326

326. In the bleak mid-winter

1 In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

2 Our God, heav'n cannot hold him nor earth sustain;
heav'n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day,
a breast-ful of milk, and a manger-ful of hay:
enough for him, whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.

4 Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but only his mother in her maiden bliss
worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

5 What can I give him, poor as I am?
if I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Text Information

• First Line: In the bleak mid-winter
• Title: In the bleak mid-winter
• Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti, 1830-1894
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2000
• Scripture:
  1 Kings 8:27
  ;
  Luke 2:8-20
  ;
  Matthew 2:1-12
  ;
  Revelation 4:8
  ;
  Revelation 21:1-2
• Topic: Christmas; Years A, B, and C: Christmas Day

Tune Information

• Name: CRANHAM
• Composer: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: © Oxford University Press. Used by permission from the "English Hymnal"
• Notes: Now Public Domain